Telescoping elevator door system

Abstract

A telescoping elevator door apparatus for an elevator having a car for travel in a hoistway is provided. The door apparatus comprises a fast elevator door, a slow elevator door, a first drive, and a second drive. The fast and slow doors are positioned to operate between the car and a landing in the hoistway. In a first embodiment, the first drive selectively drives the fast elevator door open or closed and the second drive selectively drives the slow elevator door open or closed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A telescoping elevator door apparatus for an elevator having a car for travel in a hoistway, comprising: a fast elevator door, for operation between the car and a landing in the hoistway;   a slow elevator door, for operation between the car and said landing in the hoistway, wherein said fast elevator door is independent from said slow elevator door;   a first drive, for selectively driving said fast elevator door open or closed; and   a second drive, for selectively driving said slow elevator door open or closed.   
     
     
       2. A telescoping elevator door apparatus for an elevator having a car for travel in a hoistway, comprising: a fast car door panel, attached to the car;   a slow car door panel, attached to the car;   a fast hoistway door panel, attached to a landing in the hoistway;   a slow hoistway door panel, attached to said landing in the hoistway;   a first coupler, wherein said first coupler couples said fast hoistway door panel and said fast car door panel when the car is located at said landing;   a second coupler, wherein said second coupler couples said slow hoistway door panel and said slow car door panel when the car is located at said landing;   a first drive, for selectively driving said fast hoistway and car doors open or closed; and   a second drive, for selectively driving said slow hoistway and car doors open or closed;   wherein said first and second drives respectively drive said fast hoistway and car door panels independently from said slow hoistway and car door panels.   
     
     
       3. A telescoping elevator door apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first coupler comprises: a roller, attached to one of said fast hoistway door panel and said fast car door panel; and   a vane, attached to the other of said fast hoistway door panel and said fast car door panel;   wherein when the car is drawn to said landing, said roller is received within said vane, thereby coupling said fast hoistway and car doors.   
     
     
       4. A telescoping elevator door apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second coupler comprises: a roller, attached to one of said slow hoistway door panel and said slow car door panel; and   a vane, attached to the other of said slow hoistway door panel and said slow car door panel;   wherein when the car is drawn to said landing, said roller is received within said vane, thereby coupling said slow hoistway and car doors.   
     
     
       5. A telescoping elevator door apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first drive comprises: a fast door panel actuator, attached to the car; and   a fast door panel linkage, attached to said fast car door panel;   wherein said actuator actuates said linkage and thereby actuates said fast car door panel and said coupled fast hoistway door panel.   
     
     
       6. A telescoping elevator door apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second drive comprises: a slow door panel actuator, attached to the car; and   a slow door panel linkage, attached to said slow car door panel;   wherein said actuator actuates said linkage and thereby actuates said slow car door panel and said coupled slow hoistway door panel.   
     
     
       7. A telescoping elevator door apparatus for an elevator having a car for travel in a hoistway, comprising: a fast car door panel, attached to the car;   a slow car door panel, attached to the car;   a fast hoistway door panel, attached to a landing in the hoistway;   a slow hoistway door panel, attached to said landing in the hoistway;   a first linkage, said first linkage connecting said fast and slow hoistway door panels such that moving said slow hoistway door panel a distance causes said fast hoistway door panel to travel a multiple of said distance traveled by said slow hoistway door in the same period of time;   a coupler, wherein said coupler couples said fast hoistway door panel and said fast car door panel when the car is located at said landing;   a first drive, for selectively driving said fast car door panel, said fast hoistway door panel, and said slow hoistway door panel open or closed; and   a second drive, for selectively driving said slow car door panel open or closed;   wherein said first and second drives respectively drive said fast and slow hoistway door panels and said fast car door panel independently from said slow car door panel.   
     
     
       8. A telescoping elevator door apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second coupler comprises: a roller, attached to one of said fast hoistway door panel and said fast car door panel;   a vane, attached to the other of said fast hoistway door panel and fast slow car door panel;   wherein when the car is drawn to said landing, said roller is received within said vane, thereby coupling said fast hoistway and car doors.   
     
     
       9. A telescoping elevator door apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first drive comprises: a first door panel actuator, attached to the car; and   a fast car door panel linkage, attached to said fast car door panel and said first door panel actuator;   wherein said actuator actuates said linkage and thereby actuates said fast car door panel and said coupled fast hoistway door panel.   
     
     
       10. A telescoping elevator door apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second drive comprises: a slow car door panel actuator, attached to the car; and   a slow car door panel linkage, attached to said slow car door panel and said slow door panel actuator;   wherein said slow car door panel actuator actuates said slow car door linkage and therefore said slow car door panel.   
     
     
       11. A telescoping door apparatus for an elevator, the door apparatus comprising: a fast elevator door;   a slow elevator door;   a first drive, for selectively actuating said fast elevator door; and   a second drive, for selectively actuating said slow elevator door, wherein said first and second drives independently actuate said fast and slow elevator doors.   
     
     
       12. The door apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the elevator includes a car, and wherein the fast elevator door includes a fast car door panel attached to the car. 
     
     
       13. The door apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the elevator includes a car, and wherein the slow elevator door includes a slow car door panel attached to the car. 
     
     
       14. The door apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the slow elevator door includes a slow car door panel attached to the car. 
     
     
       15. The door apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fast elevator door further includes a fast hoistway door panel and a coupler that couples said fast car door panel and said fast hoistway door panel. 
     
     
       16. The door apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the slow elevator door includes a slow hoistway door panel and a coupler that couples said slow car door panel and said slow hoistway door panel. 
     
     
       17. The door apparatus according to claim 15, further including a slow hoistway door panel and a linkage that connects said fast and slow hoistway door panels such that both of said fast and slow hoistway door panels are actuated by said first drive.